OPHTHALMOLOGY RESIDENCY TRAINING PROGRAM
Medical Mission in Mongolia
Education Is The Cornerstone To Improving Access To Healthcare For All Mongolians.
The ultimate objective of the Residency Training Program is to graduate comprehensive ophthalmologists. At the completion of their training (3 years), the ophthalmologist will have the ability to provide comprehensive medical and surgical eye care to patients in the remote areas of Mongolia. At this time there is limited access to surgical eye care, such as cataract surgery, outside of Ulaanbaatar. The improved access for patients will remove barriers to accessing care. In the future the residency program will be autonomous.
The First Hospital
The First Hospital has the first and most established ophthalmology residency training program in Mongolia. Under direction of Dr. Enkhtuul and her team, there is a strong commitment to teaching the ophthalmology residents. The success and longevity of the program are due the very dedicated ophthalmologists who guide the residents through their training.
In addition to the strong medical education of the ophthalmology residents the First Hospital now has a retina surgical program as well as the basic infrastructure to establish a wet lab surgical experience for the residents. This will enable the residents to learn intraocular surgery during their training program.
One of the most critical aspects in the development of the program is the support of the Ministry of Health and the Director of the First Hospital.
Success of the Residency Training Program
The foundation to successfully establishing a self-sustaining ophthalmology program are:
The department of ophthalmology at the First Hospital will select the candidates and determine the number of residents each year. This ensures the program can meet the educational needs of the residents and the needs of the provinces and districts. This proposal has been submitted to the Ministry of Health.
Provide equal and consistent funding for each resident. This will be the responsibility of the province and Ministry of Health.
Provide dedicated time and funding for faculty members to teach residents.
Faculty of the First Hospital and Mongolian Ophthalmology Society are committed to teaching and their responsibilities.
The successful development of the ophthalmology residency training program at the First Hospital will require the active and continued support of the faculty members, the residents, the Mongolian Ophthalmology Society, the director of the First Hospital and the Ministry of Health. This will be a project that will be constantly evolving to enable change so as to meet the eye care needs of Mongolia. The concept and approach of the program may also become a template for other medical and surgical specialties.
The Curriculum
The residents will follow an international curriculum developed to meet the eye care needs of Mongolia. The plan will be to have the program act as a template for other ophthalmology residency training programs such as that at the Third Hospital and even act as structure from which other residency training programs can be developed.
This will be a program specifically designed for Mongolia as the input and direction of the Faculty at the First Hospital and the Mongolian Ophthalmology Society (MOS). This will be a joint venture with the Laurel Surgical Foundation. The guidance of Dr. Ari Giligson, former residency program director at the University of British Columbia, will ensure the success of the project.
Achievements to Date
Establishment of a “wet lab” to improve resident surgical training
Retinal surgical services to support intraocular surgery by residents. This service provides the ability to manage potential complications.
Curriculum development and implementation under the direction of Drs. Sainbilig and Giligson.
Future Educational Endeavors
Canadian based training of Mongolian ophthalmologists in subspecialties such as retina, cornea, glaucoma and orbital plastics
These candidates will be sponsored by The Laurel Surgical Foundation and its donors. The Fellowship program will be through the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of British Columbia
Provide educational grants to the ophthalmology residents and the faculty at the First Hospital
“Teaching is only demonstrating that it is possible. Learning is making it possible for yourself.”
― Paulo Coelho